Intel has advanced its highest-end six-core processor family with the introduction of two new processors: the Intel Core i7-3960X processor Extreme Edition and the Intel Core i7-3930K processor. These are the first six-core client processors in the second-generation Sandy Bridge Intel Core processor family. With over two billion transistors, Intel's latest client processors offer the processing power equivalent of approximately 365,000 Intel 4004 processors.

The Intel Core i7-3960X and the Intel Core i7-3930K are fully unlocked so overclockers and enthusiasts who want to modify performance settings can do so with simple utilities. Based on Intel's 32nm manufacturing process, the new CPUs run at base speeds of 3.3GHz and 3.2GHz with 15MB and 12MB of L3 cache respectively. The Intel X79 Express chipset that supports this new LGA 2011 socket platform delivers the capabilities and performance for enthusiasts such as 6Gb/s Serial ATA ports and additional PCIe 2.0 lanes, leading to new levels of performance and expandability for high-end desktop platforms.

The Intel Core i7-3960X and the Intel Core i7-3930K are available now at prices of US$990 and US$555 in thousand-unit tray quantities, respectively.

In 2018, global server shipments will grow 8.5% to reach 13.73 million units. Digitimes Research estimates server shipments worldwide will grow at a CAGR of 6.5% during the period 2017-2022, with growth mainly driven by large-scale data centers and the China market.

Digitimes Research estimates total shipments of smartphone APs worldwide will grow 1.5% on year to 1.67 billion units in 2018. The slowing growth in the smartphone market means global smartphone AP shipments will only grow at a mild pace in the next few years, reaching 1.77 billion units in 2021.